Next Lesson

Session Five Skill 4 LO Responding to We’ve Tried and Failed at Therapy

DC 2025 Session Five Skill 4 LO Responding to We’ve Tried and Failed at Therapy

Key Concepts:

Future Casting:

Definition: Future casting involves discussing how past or current issues would be addressed in the therapeutic process, even if those issues are not being dealt with in the present session.
Application: Useful during discernment counseling and in the therapy phase to reassure clients about the therapeutic approach and potential outcomes.

Identifying Client Concerns:

Session Five: If a client raises concerns about therapy in session five, it often indicates they are having second thoughts or "cold feet."
Therapist's Role: Provide a clear sense of the therapeutic process and what will be done to address their concerns.

Handling Specific Concerns:

Frequency and Quantity of Sessions: Address the client's worries about the number of sessions and whether it will be enough to achieve their goals.
Carrying Partner's Anxiety: Discuss the client's feeling of being burdened by their partner's anxiety and explore ways to manage this in therapy.
Unhealthy Patterns: Identify and address toxic or negative interaction patterns between partners.

Therapeutic Approach:

Drilling Down on Patterns: Explore the root causes of negative interactions, including what each partner was feeling, saying, and how it affected them.
Shifting Patterns: Work together to find ways to change these patterns, so neither partner feels like a caretaker or critic.
Supporting Both Partners: Ensure that the therapy supports both partners without taking sides, and helps them understand and change negative patterns.

Realistic Expectations:

No Guarantees: Acknowledge that there is no guarantee of success, but emphasize the reasonable chance of positive change if both partners are willing to engage in the therapeutic process.
Partner's Willingness: Highlight the importance of the partner's willingness to recognize and address their issues, as seen in previous sessions.

Practical Example:

Client Scenario: A "leaning-out" wife who has decided on path three but still struggles with her role in the therapy.
Therapist's Response: Summarize the client's concerns, acknowledge their validity, and discuss how the therapy will address these issues.
Future Casting: Explain how past or current problems would be handled in the therapeutic process to reassure the client about the effectiveness of the therapy.

Conclusion:

By using future casting and addressing specific client concerns, therapists can build trust and provide a clear path forward in couples therapy. This approach helps clients feel supported and more confident in the therapeutic process, even when they initially have doubts or reservations.

Previous Lesson

Back to Course

Next Lesson